Dynamics of a Massive Freshwater Influx in the Clyde Estuary

Thomason, Jeremy C.; Hills, Jeremy M.; Bennett, A.

doi:10.1006/ecss.1996.0141

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

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“…The major inflow of freshwater to the Clyde Sea is from the Clyde Estuary into which drain the effluents of approximately half of Scotland's population and industry ( Fig. 1; Thomason et al 1997). Population samples of Nucella lapillus were collected from Gourock, Largs and Loch Fyne, from enclosed and protected rocky intertidal shores (Fig.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth rate as a factor confounding the use of the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus as biomonitor of heavy metal contamination

Leung¹,

Morgan²,

Wu³

et al. 2001

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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Growth rate of individually tagged dogwhelks Nucella lapillus (L.) was measured in free-living individuals at 3 sites of differing heavy metal contamination in the Firth of Clyde, west Scotland. Condition index (CI), concentrations of metals (Cd, Cu, Pb and Zn), metallothionein (MT), RNA (the RNA/protein ratio) and glycogen were also measured. In general, the marine environments of Gourock and Largs were contaminated with significantly higher tributyltin, Pb and Zn than Loch Fyne, as indicated by the results of imposex indices, and metal concentrations in transplanted polymer-ligands (Chelex® 100) and Mytilus edulis. Further, metal concentrations of native M. edulis (Pb and Zn) and Semibalanus balanoides (Cu) from Gourock were significantly higher than those from Loch Fyne. However, metal accumulation in the dogwhelks displayed a very different pattern. At a standard size (0.5 g wet soft-body weight), N. lapillus from Largs showed higher Cd, Cu and MT in their tissues than individuals from the other 2 populations. Levels of Pb and Zn were similar among the populations despite different concentrations in Chelex and mussels. Gourock dogwhelks showed similar levels of Cu and MT but lower Cd compared to those of Loch Fyne. These differences can be attributed primarily to differences in dogwhelk growth rate between sites. Gourock individuals had a higher CI and RNA/protein ratio in the foot muscle and grew faster (especially at small sizes), resulting in a tissue-dilution effect on metal and MT concentrations. In contrast, higher levels of Cd, Cu and MT in dogwhelks from Largs can be attributed to their growth rate being relatively slow compared to the rate of metal accumulation. Slow-growing individuals in Loch Fyne had relatively high Cd, Pb Zn and MT, although Loch Fyne has been regarded as a clean reference site. Among populations, differences in growth rate may be due to differences in prey availability, predation pressure, and/or genotype. The present results demonstrate that inter-site differences in growth rate can confound the use of the dogwhelks as a biomonitor of metals.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Growth rate as a factor confounding the use of the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus as biomonitor of heavy metal contamination

Leung¹,

Morgan²,

Wu³

et al. 2001

Mar. Ecol. Prog. Ser.

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“…For example, the discharge of considerably more than the usual quantity of freshwater into a brackish-water system by the river or rivers entering it (see, e.g. Boesch et al, 1976;Thomason and Bennett, 1997) will create temporary freshwater conditions near the head and can wipe out the essentially marine component of the fauna there. These then recolonize after the event, when 'normal' salinities have returned, but their speed of recolonization may well be such that the ground lost is not recovered before the next local mass mortality occurs.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

The conservation of brackish-water systems: priorities for the 21st century

Barnes

1999

Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst.

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“…Recognising its strategic significance, a number of studies have focussed on water and sediment quality (Binding and Bowers 2003;Simpson and Rippeth 1993;Curran 1981;Muller et al 1994), salinity (Wallis et al 1995), estuarine habitats (Tett et al 1986) and hydrodynamics (Poodle 1986;Thompson et al 1997;Becki et al 2006;Kaya et al 2005) of the Clyde Estuary and the River Clyde. Surprisingly however, there are few investigations of sediment mobility, morphodynamics of the estuary and its possible future changes.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Modelling the long-term morphological evolution of the Clyde Estuary, Scotland, UK

Karunarathna

2010

J Coast Conserv

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The long-term morphodynamic response of the Clyde Estuary to any possible change in environmental forcing associated with global climate change and human interference is examined here using a model based on a systems approach. The model, which uses Boolean Algebra as its formal mathematical language, provides a qualitative insight into the long term morphodynamic behaviour of the estuarine system, at this level without the need for detailed and quantitative hydrodynamic and morphodynamic process knowledge or extensive data resources. The model predictions suggest that the long-term morphological changes in the Clyde Estuary largely depend on the fluvial flow of the River Clyde. Salt marshes in the upper reaches of the estuary were found to be the most vulnerable morphological feature of the estuary. In the event of increased river flow in the future, a likely situation according to climate change scenarios, saltmarshes will deplete or disappear altogether, irrespective of the sediment influx into the estuary. Changes to waves and tides will also contribute to the evolution by taking the estuary through significantly different intermediate morphological states whilst evolving towards a stable end state.

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Dynamics of a Massive Freshwater Influx in the Clyde Estuary

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

Growth rate as a factor confounding the use of the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus as biomonitor of heavy metal contamination

Growth rate as a factor confounding the use of the dogwhelk Nucella lapillus as biomonitor of heavy metal contamination

The conservation of brackish-water systems: priorities for the 21st century

Modelling the long-term morphological evolution of the Clyde Estuary, Scotland, UK

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